Azerbaijan Airlines Crash: Russia Refuses to Acknowledge Accountability

The Kremlin has declined to confirm that Russian forces shot down an Azerbaijani passenger plane that crashed in Kazakhstan last month, killing 38 individuals. At a press briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia’s air defenses were operational at the time of the incident, which occurred on December 25, but did not explicitly confirm responsibility. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused Russia of "concealment" regarding the crash, insisting that the plane was fired upon “from the ground” while approaching Grozny, a city in Russia.

Aliyev has requested a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident, expressing dissatisfaction with Moscow’s response. He emphasized the need for accountability, criticizing Russia for its handling of the situation and demanding that it punish those responsible for the "criminal" act of shooting down the aircraft. Kremlin sources indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin has reached out to Aliyev following the disaster; however, they do not confirm that any responsibility was admitted during these communications.

Amid ongoing tensions, Azerbaijan's preliminary investigation suggests that the passenger jet was hit by a Russian air defense missile, leading to the current diplomatic friction between the two nations, despite their historical ties.